Career Action Plan - Undergraduate Students

First Year

  • Visit the Center for Career and Leadership Development (CCLD) Career Development Services聽to learn about the resources available to you (career coaching, workshops, part-time jobs, on-campus employment, internships,聽career-related events and more).

  • Complete 鈥溾 to identify your interests and how they relate to your major and career and take FOCUS 2 self-assessment to explore career options.
  • Unsure what to major in or what to do with your major check out
  • Visit the Center for Major Exploration or attend the Majors Fair in the Spring to explore how your academic interests align with majors at 爆料瓜.
  • Join at least one student organization that interests you to establish peer relationships and gain transferable skills.
  • Activate your account. Activate your account to make an appointment with a career coach and gain access to jobs and career events.
  • Draft a college resume. Need quick assistance? Stop by (transition from High school to college resume)
  • Engage in experiential learning opportunities. Consider research, volunteering, part-time work, , or service learning.
  • Visit your professor鈥檚 office hours to get a deeper understanding of class material, gain access to research opportunities, and gather valuable career advice.
  • Schedule a meeting with your academic advisor to help you achieve your education goals.
  • Plan early for meaningful summer activities. Consider employer hosted freshman leadership programs, summer jobs, , or conducting informational interviews with employers.

Second Year

  • Schedule a career coaching session through Handshake to research careers that match your interests, skills, and abilities.
  • Learn how to write a resume and cover letter in a career coaching session and upload your resume to Handshake.
  • Officially declare your major to ensure timely graduation. Visit the Center for Major Exploration or attend the Majors Fair if you need support choosing a major.
  • Participate in an internships, employment, or volunteer opportunities related to your career interests. Make an appointment with the Monarch Career and Internship Office to learn more about internship/work-based learning requirements and exploring options. (Reach out early)
  • Participate in CDS career-related events, including the Internship and Career Fairs, information sessions/tables, etc. to learn more about employment opportunities, and networking with employers
  • Participate in career and professional development workshops and events to assist in your professional development growth
  • Create a , start building your professional network, and visit CDS for your professional headshot
  • Connect with alumni through to ask professional questions about your future career through an informational interview.
  • Explore Handshake for internships, jobs, on-campus opportunities to obtain worked-based experience in the world of work.
  • Continue your participation in a and take on a leadership role.
  • Explore and participate in study abroad opportunities, LeADERS, research, etc. (Research these opportunities early)
  • Visit your professor鈥檚 office hours and schedule a meeting with your advisor.
  • Conduct Informational Interviews to learn about career options
  • Shadow a professional in your field of interest to experience the work firsthand

Third Year

  • Identify skills and knowledge you have gained through your education and relate those to potential career opportunities. Visit the website.
  • Participate in summer internships, employment, or volunteer opportunities related to your career interests. Make an appointment with the Monarch Career and Internship Office to learn more about internship/work-based learning requirements and exploring options. (Reach out early)
  • Update your resume in Handshake to include recent internship, volunteer, and job information.
  • Schedule at least two mock interview sessions using Career Commons or scheduling through to improve your interview skills and gain more confidence
  • Update your 聽with information about your new experiences and visit CDS for your professional headshot
  • Participate in CDS career-related events, including the Career Fairs, Co-Op & Internship Fair, etc.
  • Conduct informational interviews or job shadow with alumni in your specific field of interest.
  • Explore and participate in education abroad opportunities, LeADERS, research, etc.
  • Seek a leadership role in your student organization or employment.
  • Plan when you want to take the , , or tests to ensure you have enough time to study
  • Complete the , , or in preparation for graduate school (if applicable).
  • Identify your professional references and begin to request your letters of recommendations.
  • Visit your professor鈥檚 office hours and schedule a meeting with your advisor.
  • Reflect on your experience so far and reassess any changes that need to be made for your personal career action plan
  • Build and maintain your academic and professional relationships
  • Identify 2-3 kinds of jobs/work you are interested in

Fourth Year

  • For Job Seekers:

    • Update your resume in Handshake and apply for relevant positions.
    • Start researching companies for which you would like to work.
    • Schedule a career coaching session to finalize your job seeking strategies.
    • Participate in CDS career-related events, including the Career Fairs, employer information sessions, etc.
  • Graduate School Applicants:
    • Submit your graduate school application(s).
    • Submit your letters of recommendation and test scores
    • Schedule at least two mock interview sessions
    • Continue to build your network on
  • Use Handshake to find 2- 5 full-time job descriptions that you would be interested in applying to and practice tailoring your documents to each position
  • Attend a workshop or watch a LinkedIn Learning course on Salary Negotiation.
  • Begin applying and interviewing for full-time positions in the fall semester (or) apply to graduate or professional schools.
  • Join a professional association.
  • 爆料瓜 for graduation in your second to last semester through Leo Online
  • Finalize your job search
  • Reflect on your experiences and reassess any changes that need to be made for your personal career action plan
  • Evaluate your personal network. Your network can support you during your job search
  • Consider joining an to continue to build your network
  • Celebrate & reflect on your accomplishments and what is to come